Cops: Drexel Hill man left infant alone in car to hit bar

UPPER DARBY -- A 33-year-old Drexel Hill man is facing child endangerment charges for allegedly leaving his 10-month-old son in the car while he was having a beer inside a local bar.

James A. Lovett, 33, of the 4400 block of Township Line Road, surrendered Tuesday to police for an incident reported at 8 p.m. April 19 in the parking lot next to Gambol's Bar, 3724 Garrett Road.

According to police Superintendent Michael Chitwood, police responded to a call from a woman who saw the baby alone in the car.

"The car doors were unlocked and the engine was running," Chitwood said. "There was an unopened 40-ounce bottle of beer on the front seat. The baby was left alone while he was in the bar drinking. We have zero tolerance for someone leaving a baby in the car. That is totally unacceptable. Anything could have happened to that baby."

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According to the affidavit, the complainant reported waiting for five minutes after seeing the baby asleep in the back seat in a car seat of an idling vehicle.

One officer checked the baby while another officer went inside the bar to find the father.

"The defendant was seated at the bar with a drink in front of him," Patrolman William Sides wrote in the document. "The defendant stated he had only been inside the bar for half of a beer."

Lovett was arraigned Tuesday on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle.

Magisterial District Judge Robert Radano set bail at $20,000 unsecured pending a preliminary hearing May 23 in district court.